Cosgrove, Noriss Lee Ennis2018-09-252018-09-251998http://hdl.handle.net/11603/11383The purpose of this study was to collect data regarding the knowledge of and compliance with Universal Precautions (UP) among operating room registered nurses (OR RNs) who circulate, to determine if they are knowledgeable of their risk for exposure to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) and if they practice universal precautions according to OSHA standards. The study Population was OR RN's from four rural hospitals. A convenience sample of 36 such OR RN's were observed over a 60-day period, for performance of up behaviors during a variety of surgical procedures. A descriptive observational research design was used for this investigation. Demographic data and data on universal precautions (UP) practices were collected using a survey and a Universal Precautions Assessment Tool (UPAT), revised from a tool developed by Gauthier, Tumer, Langley, Neil and Rush (1991). Demographic data showed that the study sample was representative of an OR RN population with respect to gender. A Spearman's Rho correlation coefficient showed that the more knowledgeable of UP the OR RN was, the less likely he/she was to wear gloves when applying tape to the surgical dressing (r = -.4438, p=.034).The two sample T-test revealed that OR RNs who had attended a UP inservice within 6 months of being observed were more likely to wash their hands after contamination (x=22.33, SD=40.45). Wearing gloves when moving a patient (t=3.75, p=.001) and washing hands after removal of gloves (t= -4.03, p=.000) were found to be significantly different when the nurse had received the Hepatitis B vaccine. Further investigation with a larger sample and a control group is needed to ascertain which factors contribute to the problem of poor compliance with glove use and handwashing behavior.109 pagesen-USOperating room nursesOperating room nurses - Exposure to the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)Operating room nurses - Exposure to the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV)Universal Precautions Assessment Tool (UPAT)Operating room nurses -- Handwashing behaviorText